Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 March 2018 13 October 2014

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The childminder is highly committed to providing the highest-quality provision for children in her care. She frequently evaluates and reflects on her practice and the activities provided. The childminder skilfully incorporates the important views of parents and children into her identified targets and areas for further development.  Children build exceptionally close bonds with the childminder. She provides children with settling-in sessions that meet their individual needs. Children demonstrate that they are extremely happy and feel safe in the childminder's home.  Partnerships with parents are extremely strong. The childminder ensures parents are consistently informed about their children's progress and achievements. She frequently shares with them the next steps in children's learning and provides an extensive range of ideas that parents can use at home to further support their children's development.

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This provision is outstanding

 The childminder provides abundant opportunities for children to develop and strengthen their language and communication skills. She skilfully introduces new words into their vocabulary, such as 'rhythm' as they play instruments and 'wheelbarrow' during a story session.  Children delight in exploring the local area. This helps children rapidly extend their physical skills as they enjoy ball games and climbing equipment at the local parks and fields. The childminder talks to them about nature and bugs as they explore the woods.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 continue the excellent professional development opportunities that focus on maintaining the highest-quality teaching.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the childminder.  The inspector held a number of discussions with the childminder. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of persons living in the household.  The inspector spoke to children during the inspection.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through reading written feedback provided.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder places the safety and welfare of the children as her highest priority. She has extensive knowledge about the signs and symptoms of abuse and the procedures to follow if she has any concerns about children in her care. The childminder teaches the children from a young age to identify potential risks and what they can do to keep themselves safe during their play. The childminder understands the importance of continuing to attend training and opportunities for professional development to maintain her expert knowledge and skills. She makes sure her assistant is clear about their role and responsibilities. The childminder has built exceptionally close partnerships with other settings that children attend. She frequently shares records of children's development and next steps in learning with them. The childminder has started to use some of the activities from other settings to support

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

children to extend their skills even further to be better prepared for their move on to their next setting.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The childminder gathers a wealth of information from parents about what children are able to do when they first start at her setting. She skilfully uses this information along with her own observations to clearly identify where children are initially working. The childminder frequently provides opportunities to promote children's mathematical skills. For example, children delight in counting how many beads they have threaded and how many pieces of fruit they have chosen at snack time. Children enjoy being challenged during story time to predict what may happen next and delight in talking about what they see in the pictures. The childminder extends their learning even further by helping children create a den that leads on from their favourite story.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Young children rapidly develop their independence. For example, they delight in choosing what colour bowl they would like to use and eagerly tidy away toys when they have finished playing. Children behave exceptionally well. They delight in sharing toys with each other and rapidly learn the important skill of taking turns. The childminder promotes excellent hygiene practices and she talks to children about the germs they wash away before mealtimes. Children delight in taking part in activities for different festivals, which helps support their growing knowledge about each other's differences and similarities.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children consistently make rapid progress in their learning and development. They fully engage in the extensive range of interesting and challenging activities. Children very quickly learn the necessary skills ready for their next stage in learning and for their move on to school. They delight in having pretend conversations with their mothers on toy telephones. Children talk about what they are doing and what they are going to eat for their snack time.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129276 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1103004 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 7 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 17

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Name of registered person

Date of previous inspection 13 October 2014

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Telephone number

The childminder registered in 1997 and lives in Welwyn Garden City. She operates her provision all year round from 8am to 6pm on Monday to Thursday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. She provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The childminder holds a relevant childcare qualification at level 3. She occasionally works with an assistant.

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Telephone number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Telephone number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Telephone number

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Telephone number

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Telephone number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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